author, mental health activist, follower of Christ

Month: June 2018
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Dear Marja, I cried reading your article entitled “Feeling Hated?” dated June 7th because I can truly relate. Sometimes what keeps me going are your articles. My struggles are no longer so much about my illness as I have learned how to handle that now especially with the medicines and some self help stuff I […]

I received the following message from someone today with a need to share where she’s at. She sends prayers to all who find life difficult in some ways: Hi Marja So much of what bothers us can be hidden by pretending to be okay, and as your posts indicate, people do not want […]

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:43-45 Around thirty years ago when I started following God I prayed, “Fill me with […]

DIARY: Despised by those once close, made to feel ugly. What have I done? I did the best I could. Was I really to blame, or was it the label someone stuck on me? Where do you go when you have an illness that doctors and counselors don’t want to deal with – […]

And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” Mark 1:40-41 (RSV) At the time Jesus lived, touching an outcast with contagious […]

But to God – to Jesus – we are valuable and beautiful. Each of us is a unique creation. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 When we think of being stigmatized because of an illness or disorder, our […]

RESPONDING TO GOD

In this blog I try to show how I, a person living with mental health issues, respond to my struggles, turning to God for comfort, strength and courage.

I've lived with bipolar disorder for over fifty years and have for twenty years worked to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness.

In an effort to build awareness in the church I founded the Living Room peer support ministry in 2006.

Currently my main focus for this blog is to look back at my memories of Living Room from its beginnings in 2006 to nine years later when ill health forced me to retire from my group. I hope these posts will help readers appreciate the value of faith-based peer support. If you're interested in joining a group go to Sanctuary Mental Health